Summer notebook: July 25

PGCBL
Spotlight: Taylor Blatch
A
former 27th round draft pick by the Minnesota Twins in 2013 MLB
Draft, Taylor Blatch is no stranger to opening eyes with his lively
right arm. And, open eyes is what he’s done very consistently over
the course of his summer in the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball
League.
Even
on an Amsterdam Mohawks pitching staff that includes other all-star
standouts like Ryan Clark and E.J. Ashworth, Blatch has garnered
attention for his powerful fastball and improving consistency with
his command. The coronation of his breakout summer came at last
week’s All-Star Game, where he ran his fastball up to 93 mph.
On
the summer, the 5-foot-11 righthander stands at 4-1 with a 2.18 ERA
over six starts. In 33 innings, he has struck out 32 batters and
allowed just 22 hits. That performance comes on the heels of a
learning experience of a freshman season in which Blatch posted a
6.23 ERA over 14 appearances.
But,
it should comes as no surprise that Blatch has already begun to show
improvement at the collegiate level. The Stuart, Florida native
attended 13 Perfect Game events over the course of his high school
career, advancing from a young pitcher working at 78-83 mph with his
fastball in 2010 to one of the standouts of the 2012 PG National
Showcase in 2012, where he touched 93 mph.
An
above average athlete with a live, clean arm action and a sharp
breaking ball, Blatch has the look of a pitcher who will continue to
improve as he logs more innings. And, as he logged those innings this
summer in the PGCBL, that improvement has come rapidly.

Around
The Cape
Marc
Brakeman, RHP, Stanford – No pitcher on the Cape throws more
changeups than Hyannis’ Brakeman. And, it’s hard to argue with
his success. He’s currently second in the league in strikeouts, and
has accomplished that by throwing more changeups than fastballs. A
dominant, plus offering, it’s a pitch Brakeman can and will throw
in any count to both righty and lefty hitters. The biggest
development in Brakeman’s game, however, may be his increased
fastball velocity. He’s been up to 95 mph this summer and has
worked consistently at 92-94 mph. And, in his most recent and best
start this summer, he carried that velocity deep into the game.

Alex
Young, LHP, TCU – The owner of arguably the league’s best
breaking ball, Young technically throws both a slider and a
curveball. The curveball is a true hammer at 81-83 mph, showing hard,
late action and outstanding depth for a curveball at that velocity.
He’ll also throw a true slider at 82-84, a pitch that flashes 65
potential on the 20-80 scale and can be “back-footed” against
righthanded batters. Young’s fastball has lived mostly in the 89-92
mph range, touching as high as 93. But, it’s his command of the
breaking ball, as fell as a late fading changeup, that make him one
of the most well-rounded pitching prospects in the college ranks
right now.
Walker
Buehler, RHP, Vanderbilt – A late arrival to the Cape,
Buehler’s stuff has not disappointed in his two starts. His
fastball has ranged from 92-96 mph, with his better velocity coming
in his first time out. He throws both a slider and curveball that
he’s comfortable locating even behind in counts. His slider at
83-84 mph has been the more consistent offering for on the Cape, but
his curveball also flashes above average depth. And, his 83-86 mph
changeup has been a consistent weapon for him as well.

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